Volume 3, Number 4

August 31, 2006

The Communiqué is an on-going series of messages to departments who sponsor international scholars at Boston University. With the Communiqué, we offer information that helps in the processing of scholar immigration-related documents and petitions. We hope you find the Communiqué a useful tool in working with the ISSO and in successfully hiring and sponsoring scholars from around the world. Past Communiqués are archived on our web site. Click here to go to the archive page.

New Student Check-in During Labor Day Weekend

The ISSO will be open from 9:00-5:00 each day over the Labor Day Weekend (Saturday, Sunday, Monday), in order to accommodate the large number of new international students who are arriving to check-in. New scholars arriving during these days may contact the ISSO by phone or in person with general questions, but should plan to attend a scheduled Scholar Orientation time for formal check in and for I-9 completion.

Modified Schedule for New Scholar Orientation

Due to the Labor Day holiday, there will be no Scholar Orientation on Monday, September 4. In order to accommodate new scholars in J-1 classification that will arrive this coming week, however, we have scheduled an additional Scholar Orientation time for Tuesday, September 5, at 11:00 a.m. The modified Scholar Orientation schedule for the coming week is as follows:

Scholar Orientation is required for all scholars in J-1 classification that have entered the U.S. with a new SEVIS DS-2019 immigration document. During the orientation session, ISSO staff advise scholars of the rights and responsibilities of their J-1 scholar status, and provide information regarding medical insurance coverage, obtaining a BU identification card and email, nonimmigrant taxation, immigration documents required for travel, issues related to dependent spouses and children, and other general information regarding arrival and adjustment to the Boston area. For scholars who are employment by Boston University , ISSO staff will also complete the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification and will discuss the procedure for obtaining a Social Security number.

Reminder About I-9 Walk-In Hours and Required Documentation
As we begin a new academic cycle, we wanted to remind all departments of the university’s policy with regard to completion of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification for foreign national employees.

Any professor, researcher or employee of Boston University who is not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder), must complete an I-9 at the ISSO within 3 days of beginning employment. This includes individuals who obtain employment authorization from the USCIS without Boston University sponsorship (such as students in F-1 status who are authorized for Optional Practical Training, pending lawful U.S. permanent residents, J-2 dependents, asylees, etc.)

The ISSO holds standard walk-in I-9 hours for international employees every week as follows:

Tuesday 9-10 am
Wednesday 4-5 pm
Thursday 1-2 pm

All employees needing an initial or updated I-9 should bring original immigration documents demonstrating their unexpired employment authorization in the U.S. In addition, employees who are not in a BU-sponsored employment category, must also bring a Dean’s level appointment letter (for teaching or research positions) or a job offer letter (for staff positions). This letter should specify the job title, hiring department (including the unit/department code), and start date of employment (or dates of employment if temporary)

Please note that a new I-9 may be required whenever an employee receives a new Employment Authorization Document from the USCIS and whenever there is a change in the individual’s immigration classification.

A new I-9 must also be completed at the ISSO by any former student in a nonimmigrant classification who is continuing employment at Boston University beyond the date of graduation. Boston University students in F1 or J-1 student status are only authorized on campus in Student Employment jobs until the date on which they complete their program of study unless they have secured employment authorization from the USCIS.

Changes in ISSO Scholar Responsibilities

As you may be aware, Jill Ostrowski, resigned her position at the ISSO. We are actively searching for a new International Scholar Advisor. For the immediate future, however, responsibilities for scholar processing at the ISSO will be distributed as follows:

Helpful Links

Welcome, New Students!

Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. Photo by Jackie Riccardi